Building the right thing, and the thing right.

In his book, "The Hard Thing About Hard Things," Ben Horowitz categorizes individuals into two essential types for any successful endeavour: Type 1 and Type 2. Understanding these types and how they complement each other is crucial for effective leadership and project success. Let me break it down for you.

Type 1 vs Type 2

Type 1 individuals are strategic thinkers. They prefer to plan meticulously, ensuring all necessary elements are in place before executing. They value preparation and believe that a well-thought-out plan is essential for success. You know the type - always dotting the i's and crossing the t's before taking action.

Type 2 individuals, on the other hand, are action-oriented. They see any time not spent executing as wasted. They believe that progress is made through doing and learning along the way, adjusting their approach as they go. These are the 'roll up your sleeves and let’s get it done' folks!

Integrating Type 1 and Type 2 in Leadership

While both types have their strengths, the true power lies in combining these approaches within an organization. This balance can be seen in different leadership styles within engineering teams.

Engineering Leadership Styles

Effective engineering leadership requires a blend of planning and execution, embodying both Type 1 and Type 2 characteristics. Here’s how this balance manifests in various leadership roles:

Technology Leadership

• Traits: Reflects Type 1’s strategic thinking by understanding what 'good' looks like in tech, enjoying discussions on tech debt and code improvements, and being comfortable reviewing code and PRs.

• Activities: Guides technical strategy, establishes principles and metrics, and improves engineering processes. This mirrors the meticulous planning and strategic evaluation of Type 1 leaders.

Delivery Leadership

• Traits: Incorporates Type 2’s action-oriented mindset by being comfortable in planning workshops, managing dependencies proactively, and tracking progress through milestone meetings and dashboards.

• Activities: Facilitates Scrum ceremonies, manages planning, roadmapping, and addresses risks and blockers. This aligns with Type 2’s focus on execution and immediate progress.

People Leadership

• Traits: Balances both Type 1 and Type 2 qualities by prioritizing 1:1 meetings, valuing engagement in team discussions, and taking a deep interest in team health surveys.

• Activities: Coaches and mentors through 1:1s, development plans, and aligning personal goals with product development. Also fosters a positive culture with clear communication, change management, psychological safety, and conflict resolution.

Overemphasis on any single leadership type can lead to issues:

• A Tech Leader might miss deadlines while perfecting solutions.

• A pure people leader may neglect technological investments, and governance, leading to long-term inefficiencies.

• Focusing on delivery can cause team burnout by focusing too much on deadlines without considering quality.

Sounds familiar, ?

You’re in luck, because you only need people with 2 of these 3 traits.

In the next edition of LeadReads, we’ll go through the prescription for the above symptoms.

DATA TALES

According to David Norton and Robert Kaplan's book “The Balanced Scorecard”, 90% of businesses struggle to effectively implement their strategies. According to one study, 85% of leadership teams dedicate less than one hour per month to strategy, while 50% devote no effort at all. Read more in this whitepaper.

WHAT I’M READING

I'm currently reading 'No Rules Rules' by Reed Hastings and Erin Meyer, a fascinating read on the unconventional culture and management philosophy behind Netflix's remarkable success. The book offers insightful strategies for cultivating an innovative, freedom-oriented workplace - valuable lessons for any entrepreneur aiming to build a high-performing, agile organization.

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Hi, I’m Mohammed Ali Chherawalla (Mac), Co-founder & CTO at Wednesday Solutions, a specialized engineering services company with a focus on Applied AI, Data, and Application Modernization. I make it a point to read every message from my subscribers, so don't hesitate to share your thoughts with me.